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CARTHAGE, IL – Chairman David Walker faced a challenge to his leadership at this week's Hancock County Board meeting. District Two Republican Delbert Kreps pushed for a "no confidence" vote on Walker.
He said Walker "exceeded his authority" during contract negotiations with county employees.
Kreps said Walker didn't consult with the board before he authorized $400 payments to five employees of the sheriff's department who don't use the county's health insurance. The payments were to offset some of their health insurance cost.
He said, "There's 15 people on the board. One person knew about it. None of the rest of us did. It wasn't brought out before we voted on the contract or we wouldn't have voted for it."
Two board members were absent from the meeting. Of the 13 board members present, seven voted in support of Walker. Six endorsed the non-binding "no confidence" resolution.
Walker, who is also a Republican, said, "I understand that they want everybody to know what's going on, but you know, if you've got questions, you need to ask those questions."
He said he informed members of the finance committee of the payments during the contract negotiations.